The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-27
THE NEW RULE.
A Hospital Comedy.
1Chambers Journal

eudcluleul, IL may Oe, DuI one Oh LerrlDle I'M
port-namely, that every nurse who became
engaged" to student or doctor connected
with the hospital should forthwith be dis
missed.
There had been a good deal of love max
ing within the walls of st. Lazarus. There
usually is where young men and madens
have frequent occasion to meet each other;
and even hardened and avowed celibates,
who could resist the destinations of the love-
lest girl in Europe when she was attired ac-
cording TO the dictates of fashion, and was
bent on nothing but her own amusement,
suecumbed to pretty "sister" dressed In a
dainty cap and simple gown, and engaged in
tending the suffering. Several marriages
had thus been arranged and Mrs. Saunders,
the matron, who, being widow herself, con-
sidered the marriage of any of her subordi-
mates "most un-nurse-like''-she was fond Of
this phrase, having invented it-felt it her
duty to urge upon the governor the fitness of
pressing upon the directors the necessity Of
putting stop to all manner of courtship and
Irritation.
"The amount Of sentimental nonsense that
goes on in the hospital is positively scandal
ous,' she said. ''I'm sure it isn't my fault
/ do all can to prevent it, and yet it goes
on"
Mrs. Saunders did herself no more than
justice. If any man in the place could look
on nurse without positive aversion, it was
not her fault. She wished her nurses to be,
she said, meat, but not attractive" The be-
witching fringe was strictly tabooed; and
since it had come into fashion, the wearing
of the hair short, adopted by several nurses
as being the simplest possible couture, had
met with her entire disapproval. Unfortu-
nately, she could not disfgure the noses and
eyes of her SISTERS" or she certainly would
have done it.
She was held in unmitigated awe and mod
flied esteem. The merest hint of her prox-
unity was enough to make the most senti-
mental couple find pressing occupation at OPP
posite ends of the corridor or ward in which
they had met and it was a great trial to her
that, owing to her being heavy dame of
ample person, who could not exactly dart
into ward like a sunbeam, she had never
been an absolute eyewitness to any mon
sense" as she called it. She knew that love-
making was going on around her; she felt it
in the air; and yet she was never able to lay
her finger on tangible instance of 1t. There
FORE until her brain evolved the bright idea
of turning betrothed renegades out of doors,
she was very unhappy. Now, calm sense
of triumph frightened her usually austere
and frowning brow.
The new regulation provoked some indig-
nation among most of the nurses. Sister
Fanny, indeed, said she didn't care; she did
= ,af rad IN arvlNodv nd fhe
new rule did not forbid ones being-well
pleasant to-people. Sister Evelyn declared
that she thought it just and necessary (''the
goings-on were shameful" she said; and
Sister Phoebe remarked, with her brightest
merriest smile, that it would not affect her
one bit. But all the others were wroth, and
one probationer burst into tears, and threat
ened to leave the hospital without awaiting
the contingent dismissal.
"You needn't be so frightened" said Sis
ter Evelyn. you're not likely to be sem
away on account Of your being engaged
There won't be any occasion for it"
perhaps not" answered Phoebe in mus
ing tone; "but think Sister Evelyn is the
most likely of us to escape even the susp
cion of flirting"
Sister Evelyn glared at the speaker, who
looked as pacidly unconscious as possible
Between the two there existed that comfort
able spite, breaking out into occasional pas
sages-of-arms, which is the very salt of lif,
to women who lead monotonous existence
At least twas the salt of life to Phoebe
Perhaps the other did not enjoy it so much
for as a rule, she got the worst of these en-
counters Of wit She had at first hated siste
Phebe merely on principle, because she wal
pretty; but these little battles, in which sh,
was so often worsted, mad made her regard
her with a detestation beyond what she fell
for any other goOd-looking girl in the place
Sister Evelyn had begun life as Mary Ann
Giles, and came from some unspecifed part
of the great, unex rlOred east-end." 1t was
said that she had brought thence some orr
entail habits of thought and speech; but this
was matter Of opinion. What is certain j;
that when she joined nursing sisterhoot
and gave up her surname, she threw her un
romantic pr&nomen overheard as well, anC
appeared under the sentimental title b!
which we have spoken Of her. The chang
of style leaking out at st. Lazarus's had oc
casioned some amusement, which Sister Ev
elyn had resented SO vigorously that she wa
now the most unpopular nurse in the whole
establishment. She was rather disguised
with nursing altogether, and was inclined tC
give it up, finding it harder and less cOngen
ial work than she had anticipated. And, be-
sides, the hospital cap was unbecoming to
her. But she got on well with Mrs Saunders
some of the others said she toadied to the
matron-and so she staid on.
Dhnaha Ehacfar In, bnSpitol YorIonao Sic.
ter Phoebe, was, on the contrary, a univer-
sal favorte. She was the best surgical nurse
in the place, so the doctors liked her. She
had pretty face-which the cap Sister Eve
Ign found so trying fitted to perfection
neat figure, so the students and resident
surgeons admired her. She had winning
smile, a soothing voice and noiseless step
so the patients adored her. There was a
general feeling of deep regret when it was
whispered that Phoebe was flirting with DR.
Harrington, and that there was question o,
an inquiry into the matter, with a view o.
ascertaining whether any engagement exist
ed between them.
ct can't be true" exclaimed Sister Fan
n.y. ''Phpbe has always been as nice as pos
sible to everybody; but she never took spe
clal notlce OF any one VI bho u"N'oA'' ~
only that spiteful eats jealousy, because sh
is in Dr. Harringtons ward, and he neve
looks at her." The spiteful cat was Siste
Evelyn.
But said the probatiOner who had hint
ed at the accusation, "Dr. Harrington is s.
pleasant and so handsome, that even Slste
Phoebe might be-different-to him. And
did see them on the stairs together, and
"Wel-.what? Was there anything tina
looked like firting?"
Il don't know if you would call it so"-fol
Sister Fanny was known to be broadly toler
ant in the matter of ciyility, and did not APP
ply the title of flirting to any but extreme
cases. II do not know if you would call i
=